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Japan Genealogy: Difference between revisions
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== Getting started with Japanese research == | == Getting started with Japanese research == | ||
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Japan is divided into a number of areas called 'Prefectures' (abbreviated 'Pref.'). These are analogous to states or provinces in other countries. | Japan is divided into a number of areas called 'Prefectures' (abbreviated 'Pref.'). These are analogous to states or provinces in other countries. | ||
Fukushima <br>Iwate <br>Miyagi <br>Nagano <br> | Fukushima <br>Iwate <br>Miyagi <br>Nagano <br> | ||
=== Cities, Towns, and Villages === | === Cities, Towns, and Villages === | ||
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'''How to Obtain Your Family's ''Koseki'' '''(Family Registration): | '''How to Obtain Your Family's ''Koseki'' '''(Family Registration): | ||
Searching for your Japanese ancestors cannot be done the same way you would research for someone from non-Asian countries. The main reason is that Japan has very strict privacy laws and access to Vital Records is carefully protected. That being said, the Japanese are wonderful record-keepers and the ''koseki'' or Family Registration is the record on which births, deaths, marriages and divorces of Japanese nationals are kept and is a rich source of genealogical information. A child is listed on his or her parent's ''koseki'' until they create their own.<br> | |||
The ''koseki'' is kept and protected by the city hall in the hometown (''honseki)'' or permanent address of the head of household. If your ancestor was listed on a ''koseki'', you can get a copy of the record. This is the best resource for finding your ancestors, as often many generations are included. Obtaining your family's ''koseki'' requires some effort but it is worth every bit of it.<br> | The ''koseki'' is kept and protected by the city hall in the hometown (''honseki)'' or permanent address of the head of household. If your ancestor was listed on a ''koseki'', you can get a copy of the record. This is the best resource for finding your ancestors, as often many generations are included. Obtaining your family's ''koseki'' requires some effort but it is worth every bit of it.<br> | ||
The best and easiest way to get your ''koseki'' is check with other family members, (i.e.cousins still in Japan, etc.) and see if someone already has a copy and will make you a copy. If they do - do the happy dance! <br> | The best and easiest way to get your ''koseki'' is check with other family members, (i.e.cousins still in Japan, etc.) and see if someone already has a copy and will make you a copy. If they do - do the happy dance! <br> | ||
If not, continue with the steps below:<br> | If not, continue with the steps below:<br> | ||
1. Make a pedigree chart with all the information you know and determine who was the 1st generation (''issei)'' to leave Japan.<br> | 1. Make a pedigree chart with all the information you know and determine who was the 1st generation (''issei)'' to leave Japan.<br> | ||
2. Locate the address of the ''honseki'' or hometown of where your ancestor came from. You will need their address or you cannot locate their city hall. If they came from a large city like Hiroshima, you will need to know the ward or village.You can find this information in several ways:<br> | 2. Locate the address of the ''honseki'' or hometown of where your ancestor came from. You will need their address or you cannot locate their city hall. If they came from a large city like Hiroshima, you will need to know the ward or village.You can find this information in several ways:<br> | ||
a. Personal knowledge of relatives, written information, correspondense or a copy of their passport.<br> | a. Personal knowledge of relatives, written information, correspondense or a copy of their passport.<br> | ||
b. Search Passenger List databases on line. A good resource is: http://stevemorse.org/. Sometimes the hometown address is recorded. HINT: ''Look for other family members who might have traveled with them. Often the husband would imigrate to another country, work for awhile and then come back for his wife - or if he was single, he'' ''would return to marry a hometown girl arranged for by his family. Check later years for the family returning to visit relatives and bringing their children to meet the grandparents, etc. Be creative in your spelling as often the names'' ''are horribly mispelled. When searching for the wife be sure to use her married name - often you can find the 'husband by seraching for the wife or vise versa.'''''<br>''' | b. Search Passenger List databases on line. A good resource is: http://stevemorse.org/. Sometimes the hometown address is recorded. HINT: ''Look for other family members who might have traveled with them. Often the husband would imigrate to another country, work for awhile and then come back for his wife - or if he was single, he'' ''would return to marry a hometown girl arranged for by his family. Check later years for the family returning to visit relatives and bringing their children to meet the grandparents, etc. Be creative in your spelling as often the names'' ''are horribly mispelled. When searching for the wife be sure to use her married name - often you can find the 'husband by seraching for the wife or vise versa.'''''<br>''' | ||
'' c. ''Obtain the passport information from the Japanese Consulate (must follow same rules as for obtaining a ''koseki)'', though this is often slow and unsuccessful.<br> | '' c. ''Obtain the passport information from the Japanese Consulate (must follow same rules as for obtaining a ''koseki)'', though this is often slow and unsuccessful.<br> | ||
d. Search the Family History Catalog at [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/Library/FHLC/frameset_fhlc.asp www.familysearch.org/eng/Library/FHLC/frameset_fhlc.asp] and view microfilms. Look in the "Subject" catagory under Japan immigration, or just Japan. Microfilms can be ordered and viewed at local Family History Centers found here: [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/FHC/frameset_fhc.asp www.familysearch.org/eng/library/FHC/frameset_fhc.asp]. When searching for information on Passenger Lists try to determine where their first Port of Entry was located. HINT: ''Do not assume that because they ended up in California that their Port of Entry was in California. They may have first gone to Seattle or Canada first.'' ''Be very creative and open minded in your searching.''<br> | d. Search the Family History Catalog at [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/Library/FHLC/frameset_fhlc.asp www.familysearch.org/eng/Library/FHLC/frameset_fhlc.asp] and view microfilms. Look in the "Subject" catagory under Japan immigration, or just Japan. Microfilms can be ordered and viewed at local Family History Centers found here: [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/FHC/frameset_fhc.asp www.familysearch.org/eng/library/FHC/frameset_fhc.asp]. When searching for information on Passenger Lists try to determine where their first Port of Entry was located. HINT: ''Do not assume that because they ended up in California that their Port of Entry was in California. They may have first gone to Seattle or Canada first.'' ''Be very creative and open minded in your searching.''<br> | ||
Once you know the address of the 1st generation (''issei'') to immigrate, you must check to see if the village or hometown's name is still in existence. Many villages merged into others, names changed etc. Try using google or wikipedia.com to determine the address of the city hall for the town you are searching for. HINT: ''Try [http://www.google.co.jp/ www.google.co.jp/ ] which is the Japanese version of Google if you can't locate it on the English version. You may need someone who can read kanji to translate if the translate version does not work. Most city hall's have a web page and their address is usually located on the bottom of the page.'' | Once you know the address of the 1st generation (''issei'') to immigrate, you must check to see if the village or hometown's name is still in existence. Many villages merged into others, names changed etc. Try using google or wikipedia.com to determine the address of the city hall for the town you are searching for. HINT: ''Try [http://www.google.co.jp/ www.google.co.jp/ ] which is the Japanese version of Google if you can't locate it on the English version. You may need someone who can read kanji to translate if the translate version does not work. Most city hall's have a web page and their address is usually located on the bottom of the page.'' | ||
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== Help Wanted == | == Help Wanted == | ||
<span style="font-family: arial" class="Apple-style-span" | <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">In order to make this wiki a better research tool, we need your help! Many tasks need to be done. You can help by:</span> | ||
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*[[Help:Editing a Page|Expand an articleor]] [[Special:Shortpages|short page]] | *[[Help:Editing a Page|Expand an articleor]] [[Special:Shortpages|short page]] | ||
*[[How to Create an Article on FamilySearch Wiki|Create a new article]] | *[[How to Create an Article on FamilySearch Wiki|Create a new article]] | ||
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*[[Categorization|Categorize articles]] | *[[Categorization|Categorize articles]] | ||
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*[[Create an external link|Add external links to articles]] | *[[Create an external link|Add external links to articles]] | ||
*[[Create an internal link|Add internal links to articles]] | *[[Create an internal link|Add internal links to articles]] | ||
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== Things you can do == | == Things you can do == | ||
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That you can decipher "old" kanji, by using the IME pad on the Language Bar on your computer? Draw the kanji - in stroke order, then move your curser over the corresponding kanji on the right. It will reveal the different options of how to read/speak the kanji. | That you can decipher "old" kanji, by using the IME pad on the Language Bar on your computer? Draw the kanji - in stroke order, then move your curser over the corresponding kanji on the right. It will reveal the different options of how to read/speak the kanji. | ||
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Christian Church records (Kirisuto Kyokai Kiroku) of baptisms, marriages, and deaths were kept by church clergy. They include the parish registers of Roman-Catholic and various protestant churches. They cover the time period of 1873 to the present. | Christian Church records (Kirisuto Kyokai Kiroku) of baptisms, marriages, and deaths were kept by church clergy. They include the parish registers of Roman-Catholic and various protestant churches. They cover the time period of 1873 to the present. | ||
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Did you know many Japanese emigrated to Peru? The Family History Library has microfilmed records of these emigrants. | Did you know many Japanese emigrated to Peru? The Family History Library has microfilmed records of these emigrants. | ||
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(All text below this is included in a column on the left side of the screen.) | (All text below this is included in a column on the left side of the screen.) | ||
</div><div style="width: 12.46%; float: left; height: 889px"> | </div><div style="width: 12.46%; float: left; height: 889px;"> | ||
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| style="font-family: verdana; background: rgb(238,238,238) | | align="left" style="font-family: verdana; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(238, 238, 238);" | '''News and Events''' | ||
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*Hot off the Press! | *Hot off the Press! | ||
*Current Events | *Current Events | ||
more... | more... | ||
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| style="font-family: verdana; background: rgb(238,238,238) | | align="center" style="font-family: verdana; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(238, 238, 238);" | '''Get Help Finding Town or Koseki Office Contact Information''' | ||
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[[Image:Family Search Forums smaller.gif|left|90px]] | [[Image:Family Search Forums smaller.gif|left|90px]] | ||
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| style="font-family: verdana; background: rgb(238,238,238) | | align="left" style="font-family: verdana; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(238, 238, 238);" | '''Topics''' | ||
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*[[Japan Archives and Libraries|Archives and Libraries]] | *[[Japan Archives and Libraries|Archives and Libraries]] | ||
*[[Japan Calendars|Calendars]] | *[[Japan Calendars|Calendars]] | ||
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| style="font-family: verdana; background: rgb(238,238,238) | | align="center" style="font-family: verdana; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(238, 238, 238);" | '''Useful Websites''' | ||
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Useful Websites | Useful Websites | ||
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[http://aad.archives.gov/aad/fielded-search.jsp?dt=2003&cat=WR26&tf=F&bc=,sl Internment Camps ] | [http://aad.archives.gov/aad/fielded-search.jsp?dt=2003&cat=WR26&tf=F&bc=,sl Internment Camps ] | ||
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